Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines is Santa Barbara's only free standing, full service animal rehabilitation facility led by certified professionals. In June of 2017, Karen Atlas, MPT, PT, CCRT, teamed up with Dr. Bill Otto, DVM, to open ARC and offer physical rehabilitation services to pets. ARC is fully equipped with the latest underwater treadmill, cold laser therapy (class 3b), therapeutic ultrasound, Alpha-Stimulation (CES and MET), pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), electrical stimulation (NMES and TENS), as well as innovative land based exercise equipment.

Underwater Treadmill

The underwater treadmill serves as a great rehabilitation tool in order to get your pet exercising, while greatly decreasing the impact on his or her joints. When walking with the water level at the point of the shoulder, the buoyancy of the water takes approximately 60% of the weight off of your pet’s joints. We typically have patients walk in the water as this is more functional and effective for strengthening, but we can also fill the treadmill up higher to have patients swim. Swimming is effective for increasing forelimb range of motion and for cardiovascular health.